Insulation forming machine



Aug. 12, 1958 D. SCHWARTZ INSULATION FORMING MACHINE INVENTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1954 ATTORNEY Aug. 12, 1958' D; SCHWARTZ INSULATION FORMING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1954 INVENTOR David L; thu/ar' ATTORNEY Aug. 1958 D. SCHWARTZ 2,846,825

INSULATION FORMING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, .1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 12, 1958 D. L. SCHWARTZ INSULATION FORMING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 29, 1954 FIG. 4

I IN VEN TOR. DAVID LSCHWARTZ ATTORNEY D. 1.. SCHWARTZ INSULATION FORMING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 29, 1954 Davm L.=5CHWHRTZ INVENTOR.

United States Patent INSULATION FORMING MACHHNE David L. Schwartz, North Miami, Fla.

Application September 29, 1954, Serial No. 459,106 8 Claims (Cl. 51- 191) This invention is directed to an insulation forming or shaping machine.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an insulation forming machine which is simple in construction, efficient in operation and relatively inexpensive in cost.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an insulation forming machine which requires a single operator who need not be a skilled person or craftsman.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an insulation shaping machine described as above which produces a length of insulation shaped as desired by a single and rapid operation whereby the cost of producing a shaped pipe insulator from a block of insulation is reduced to a minimum.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an insulation shaping machine described as above which may be readily adjusted for shaping pipe insulators of any desired inside and outside diameters.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an insulation shaping mechanism which does not endanger the health of the operator by the dust created by the machine but does withdraw the dust therefrom.

Further objects and advantages 'of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my pipe insulation forming machine.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the machine with the front panel partially broken away.

Figure 3 isa perspective view of the machine with the side front and rear panels shown broken away and the top panelling removed.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 2 with an insulation block shown in position having the inner core ground or shaped.

Figure 5 is a similar View showing the outer surface of the insulation block being ground or shaped.

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the position of the spindle after the insulation block has been completely shaped prior to being removed from the machine.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of one of a pair of insulation block holder or clamp.

Figure 8 is a front elevational View of the clamp device shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an'exploded view of same.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 10l0 in Figure 8.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail view of the foot pedal.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the shaped insulation block.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of a spindle taken along its axis.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of a modification of the machine.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of the adjustable top panelling positioned behind the insulation block holding mechanism, which panelling is substantially similar in construction to the panelling positioned in front of the block holding mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers generally to my pipe insulation shaping machine whose framework consists of a pair of upright angle irons 11 approximately table height disposed at the front of the machine 10 and a similar pair 12 positioned at the rear of the machine. A pair of horizontally disposed channel members 13 have their ends welded or otherwise secured to the top end portions of the angle iron 11 and 12. At the front of the machine, horizontally disposed cross braces 14 and 15 have their end portions welded to the top and bottom portions respectively of the angle irons 11, 11 and a cross brace 28 secured at an upper intermediate position on the angle irons 11, 11; while at the rear of the machine 10 horizontal cross braces 16 and 17 have their ends secured to the top and bottom portions, respectively of the rear angle irons 12, 12. The cross braces 18 and 19 extend horizontally (see Figure 2) and have their ends welded at an intermediate position on the angle irons 11, 11 and 12, 12 respectively, with a diagonally disposed cross brace 20 on each side of the machine 10 having one end secured at the upper portion of the front angle iron 11 and its other end secured to the rear angle iron 12 at the same horizontal positions as the cross braces 18 and 19. A platform 21 secured to the side of the machine is supported by the legs 22, while a further platform 23 is secured to the rear of the machine 10, supported by legs 24 and cross braces 25 securing the bottom portions of the legs 24 and the guide 43.

machine 10. An enclosed chamber 26 is formed within the machine 10 by the side panels 27 secured to the legs 11, 12 the channel member 13 and the diagonal cross brace 21?; a front panel 2? secured to the cross braces 14, 18 and the upper portion of the front legs 11, 11; a rear panel 3% secured to the cross braces 16, 19 and the rear legs 12, 12; a bottom panel 31 secured to the front brace 11 rear brace 19 and the diagonal cross braces 20; and top panels 32 and 33. The panel 32 is pivotally mounted to a hinge 34 secured to the front of the machine 10 while the panel 33 is pivotally mounted to the rear of the machine it by a hinge 35 (see Figure 2). Stops 36 which are secured to the inner walls of the channel members 13 support the panels 32 and 33 in a horizontal position. Each of the panels 32 and 33 is provided with a telescoping paneling 37 and 38 respectively, slidably mounted thereon and adapted to be fastened in any desired opened position by wing nuts 39. The inner ed es of the panelling 37 and 38 are adjustably spaced from each other forming an opening 40 at approximately the center portion of the top of the machine 11). The forward edge of the panelling 38 is provided with an upstanding flange 37:! whose function is explained in detail hereinafter (see Figure 5).

Within the opening 40 and mounted on each side of the machine 10 is an insulation block clamping mechanism 41 consisting of a support block 42 bolted or otherwise secured to the inner wall of the channel member 13 at one end and a cylindrical guide member 43 secured at its other end and extending towards the center portion of the machine 10. Both the block 42 and the cylindrical guide member 43 are provided with a recess 56 which extends from the bottom periphery of the members 43 and 42 to the axis thereof (see Figures 7 and 9). The guide member 43 is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 44 which receives a pin 45 extending radially from a collar 46 slidably mounted on the cylindrical An opening 57 is formed on the collar 46 having the same width as the recess 56. The collar 46 is permitted only a limited longitudinal movement on the cylindrical guide 43 by a handle which consists of a bell crank 47 pivotally mounted on each side of the support block 42 as at 48, and connected together by a cross member 49 to form the handle. The bell cranks are formed by a crank arm 47a connected to the main arm 47 by abolt having a square cross section 48 at which position the bell cranks are each pivotally connected mounted to the support block 42.

The free ends of the bell crank arm 47a are each pivotally connected to a link 50 whose other ends are bolted to the sides of the collar 46 (see Figures 7 and 9). At the top portion of the collar 46 there is a dog 51 which engages a peripheral slot 52 formed at the rear portion of a cylindrical member 53 provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 54 of slightly larger width than that of the dog 51. By rotating the cylindrical member 53 until the slot 54 is in alignment with the dog 51, the cylindrical member 53 may be removed from its position on the cylindrical guide 43 since the slot 54 extends the full length of the cylindrical member 53. A circular cam plate 55 bolted to the inner face of the cylindrical member 53 has a radially disposed arcuate slot 58 which extends to the axis of the cam plate 55, one edge of the slot 58 being rounded as at 59 (see Figures 7 and 8). On the face of the cam plate 55 are a plurality of pins 60 having sharpened ends 63 and mounted in a semi-circular arc thereon. A sleeve 61 made of rubber or the like is positioned about each of the pins 60 as best shown in Figure 10. A pair of elongated rods 62 which are mounted on each of the cam plates 55 have their upper surfaces tangent to a plane passing through the axis of the circular cam plate 55.

Mounted on the rear of the machine is a shaft 64 rotatably secured to the horizontal cross brace 16 and extending a short distance beyond each end of the brace 16. At the right side of the machine 10 as viewed from the front and seen in Figure 2, a sprocket Wheel 65 and a lever arm 66 are secured on the shaft 64 to rotate as a unit with the shaft 64; while on the other side of the machine 10 a second lever arm 67 is secured to the shaft 64 and a double pulley 68, 69 rotates freely on the shaft 64. On each of the free ends of the lever arms 66 and 67 there is secured a bearing mounting 70 in which a stub shaft 71 is journaled for rotational movement. The inner ends of each of the stub shafts 71 is provided with a threaded portion 73 received by a threaded bore 72 formed in end plates 76 at each end of a spindle 74, with a shoulder 75 abutting against each of the end plates 76 and thereby eflecting a proper alignment of the stub shafts 71 and the spindle 74. The spindle 74 which is slightly shorter in length than the distance between the cam plates 55 with the latter in their operating position, has an abrasive material 77 on its outer surface either cemented directly on the spindle 74 or a sheet of abrasive embedded cloth may be wrapped thereabout. The side panels 27 are each provided with an arcuate slot 78 for the stub shafts 71, the upper end of the slots 78 being in alignment with the recesses 56 of the cylindrical guide 43 and block 42 and with the radial slot 58 of the cam plates 55 when the latter are in the position shown by Figures 4 and 6. In order to prevent dust created by the machine 10 from leaking out of the chamber 26 through the slot 78, a second panel 79 is pivotally mounted as at 80 to each of the side panels 27, thereby covering the slots 78. A slot 81 is formed in each of the panels 79 to permit the shafts 71 to swing upwardly along the slots 78. As the lever arms 66 and 67 are swung upwardly (in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1) the shafts 71 will slide along the slots 78 in the fixed panels 27 and along the slots 81 on the panels 79 which swing about the pivot pin 80 in the opposite or counter clockwise direction.

The swinging movement of the spindle 74 is controlled by a foot operated lever 82 pivoted as at 83 to the rear of the machine 10. A sprocket chain 87 is secured to the lever 82 at one end and has its other end engage the upper sprockets of the wheel 65 with the terminal link of the chain 87 secured to the sprocket wheel 65. At the forward end of the lever 82 there is a foot pedal 84 pivoted as at 85 which pedal is adapted to engage a notched plate 86 for arresting the spindle 74 at any desired position. A counter weight 88 is slidably mounted'on the foot operated lever 82.

The stub shaft 71 positioned on the left side of the machine 10 extends beyond the position of the bearing mounting 70 and has a pulley 90 and a freely rotating roller 91 mounted thereon. On the platform 21 there is mounted a source of power or motor 92 connected to a reduction gearing box 93 from which a shaft 94 extends. On the shaft 94 there is secured a pulley 95 positioned in alignment with the pulley 69 and the roller 91 to receive a belt 96 which connects the pulleys 69 and 95. A belt 89 engages the pulleys 68 and 90 for unison rotational movement of the pulleys 68 and 90.

At the rear of the machine 10 on the platform 23 there is an exhaust fan 97 mounted thereon connected to a motor 109. The inlet of the exhaust fan 97 is connected to a duct 98 which communicates with the chamber 26 and the outlet of the exhaust fan 97 is connected to-a duct 99 for evacuating dust particles formed by the machine 10 in the chamber 26. The insulation 101, adapted to be shaped by the machine 10, is known as Foamglas, a product manufactured by Pittsburgh Corning Corp. Foamglas is a rigid, light weight block of glass containing millions of separate hermetically sealed cells, each forming a dead air space unconnected from each other. Foamglas provides high resistance to moisture, vapor, acid atmospheres, and also to hot and cold temperatures.

In the normal operation of the machine 10 the motors 92 and 100 are powered and the cam plates 55 positioned so that the pins 62 lie in a horizontal plane. The motor 92 causes the pulley 95 to rotate which in turn effects the rotation of the stub shafts 71 and the spindle 74 by means of the system of pulley belts 96, 89 and pulleys 68, 69 and 90. A rectangular block of insulation 101 is positioned between the cam plates 55 being placed on the rods 62 and in abutting relation with the upstanding flange 37a. Now the cross members 49 of the handles 47 are grasped by the operator and swung inwardly to ward the center of the machine 10 causing the bell crank handles 47 to pivot at 48 and the collars 46, cylindrical members 53 and cam plates 55 to shift inwardly. With the cam plates 55 moving in a direction towards each other, the sharpened ends 63 of the pins 60 will become embedded in the block of insulation 101 and the rubber sleeves 61 will engage the block of insulation 101 firmly so that the two cam plates 55 and the block of insulation 101 will rotate as a unit.

The operator then steps on the forward edge of the foot pedal 84 causing the latter to pivot about the pivot pin 85 and the lever 82 to swing downwardly pulling the sprocket chain 87 and effecting a rotational movement (clockwise as viewed in Figure l) of the sprocket wheel 65. The shaft 64 is thus made to turn compelling the lever arms 66 and the spindle 74 to swing upwardly and the stub shafts 71 sliding upwardly along the slots 78 and 81 as the panels 79 swing upwardly about their pivot pins 80. Further pressure on the foot pedal 84 will cause the stub shafts 71, 71 to slide along the radial slots 58 of each of the cam plates 55 and the spindle 74 to become positioned between the cam plates 55 into contact relation with the lower surface of the rectangular insulation block 101. The abrasive material 77 on the rotating spindle grinds away into the insulation block 101 until the stub shafts 71, 71 have reached the top of the radial slot 58 at which position a semi-circular core 102 has been ground out of the rectangular insulation block 101 along its longitudinal axis as shown by Figure 4-. Now, only suificient pressure is released from the force being exerted on the foot pedal 84 to permit the spindle 74 to swing downwardly until the stub shafts 71, 71 are about to and do leave the radial slots 58, 58. The operator imparts a slight rotational movement to the top portion of the cam plates 55 in a direction toward the front of the machine causing the rotating stub shafts 71 to contact the outer periphery of the cam plates 55. The rotating stub shafts71 impart a rotational movement to the cam plates 55 as shown in Figure 5. As the cam plates 55 rotate, the rotating spindle 74 contacts the outer surface of the block insulation 101 and grinds that surface until the cam plates 55 make a complete revolution when the stub shafts 71 arrives at the rounded edge 55* of the radial slot 58. The pressure being exerted on the foot pedal 54 is imparted to the stub shafts 71 and compels the latter to enter the radial slots 58. The operator now pivots the foot pedal 84 on the pivot pin 85 toward the rear of the machine 10 causing the rear edge of the foot pedal 34 to engage one of the notches in the plate 26 as shown by Figure 11. With the foot pedal 84 this position, the spindle 74 assumes the position shown by Figure 6. The insulation block 101 now has its inner and outer surfaces ground and is removed from the clamping mechanisms 41 by the operator grasping the handles 4-7 and swinging them outwardly or in a direction away from each other. This causes the cam plates 55 to slide in a direction away from the spindle 74 and the insulation block 101 thereby releasing the latter. The operator removes the completed insulation block and places therein another rectangular insulation block, resting the block on the pins 62 in abutting relation with the upstanding flange 37a. The cycle of operation is then repeated until the desired number of pipe insulators have been formed.

When it is desired to produce pipe insulators having diiferent outside diameters, the cam plates 55 must be replaced by other appropriate cam plates. This is done by manually rotating the cam plate 55 and the cylindrical member 53 until the groove 54 is brought'into alignment with the dog 51. Now the cylindrical member 53 to which the cam plate 55 is bolted can be removed from the cylindrical guide member 43 and replaced by another cam plate 55 having the desired dimensions. Since the diameter of the spindle 74 determines the size of the core 102 formed in the insulation block, a different spindle must be utilized if it is desired to change that dimension of the pipe insulator. This is done by merely unthreading the stub shafts 71 from the spindle 74 and a different spindle returned in its place.

All during the operation of the machine 10, the suction fan 97 evacuates the chamber 26 of the dust created by the grinding action of the spindle 74. The slide panels 37 and 38 prevent the escape of dust particles through the upper portion of the machine 10 by being extended to their positions closest to the insulation block 101 without interference therewith, and permitting all of the air which enters the chamber 26 to be sucked in only at the top of the machine 10. The position of the upstanding flange 37a is determined by the outside diameter of the pipe insulator, then being formed by the machine 10.

Since the upstanding flange 37a is used as a stop for a block of insulation when the latter is placed on the pins 62. the distance the upstanding flange 37a of the panelling 33 is positioned from the axis of the cam plates 55 is approximately one-half the width of the block of infashion. The machine is exactly as shown and described hereinabove except that a cam plate 104 is pivotally mounted on the inner wall of the channel member 13. A chain 109 engages the insulation support plate member 55 and the cam plate 104 for unison operation and rotational movement of the two plates. The cam plate 104 is provided with a radially disposed slot 106 which extends to the axis of the cam plate 104. An arcuate slot 111 is formed in the panel 27 to permit a pin 108, which is mounted on the lever arm 66, to extend inwardly and engage the cam 104 and cam slot 106. The position of the abrasive spindle 74 is determined by the position of the pin 108. As the lever arm 66 swings upwardly the pin 108 enters the radial slot 106 causing the abrasive spindle 74 to grind the inner core of the insulation block being supported by the plate members 55. The lever arm 66 is permitted to swing downwardly until the pin 108 leaves the radial slot 106 when the rotation of the plate members 55 is effected, causing the cam plate 104 to rotate with the pin or cam follower 108 in contact relation with the periphery of the cam plate 104. When the cam plate 104 has made a complete revolution, the insulation block will have been formed or shaped and the pin 108 returned to its position at the outer portion of the radial slot 106, ready to recommence the cycle of operation.

While specific embodiments of the insulation shaping machine have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is.claimed is:

l. A pipe insulation forming machine comprising a support, a pair of cam plates rotatably mounted on said support in spaced relation to each other, retaining means mounted on each of said cam plates for supporting an insulation block between said cam plates, said cam plates having a center portion and a peripheral portion and a radially disposed slot extending from substantially said peripheral portion to said center portion of said cam plates, a spindle, shaft means mounting said spindle between said cam plates, means for rotating said spindle and further means mounting said shaft means on said support adapted to selectively position said shaft means in said radially disposed slots and at said peripheral portion of said cam plates.

2. A pipe insulation forming machine comprising a support, a pair of plate means rotatably mounted on said support in spaced relation to each other, said plate means each having a radially disposed slot extending to substantially a center of said plate means, spindle means mounted on said support in juxtaposition with said plate means, abrasive means mounted on said spindle means, means for rotating said spindle means, an elongated member secured to each of said plate means on each side of said centers for supporting said insulation between said plate means, said elongated members lying in a plane substantially contiguous with said centers of said plate means and a plurality of pins mounted on each of said plate means adapted to engage said insulation.

3. The structure as recited in claim 2 and handle means operatively connected to said plate means for slidably moving said plate means in a direction toward and away from each other on said support.

4. A pipe insulation forming machine comprising a stand having a top portion, a rotatably mounted shaft extending across said top portion, a lever arm having one end secured to said shaft and the other end extending alongside said stand, a stub shaft rotatably mounted at one end to said other end of said lever arm and extending toward said stand, a spindle secured to said stub shaft, power means operatively connected to said spindle for ,7 rotational movement of said spindle, abrasive means secured to the outer surface of said spindle, a sprocket wheel secured to said shaft, an operating lever pivotally mounted to said stand, a sprocket chain secured at one end to said sprocket wheel and engaging sprockets on said sprocket wheel, said other end of said sprocket chain being secured to said operating lever for transverse movement of said spindle, an arcuate plate member rotatably mounted at said top portion of said stand, said plate member having a radially disposed slot extending to the axis of said plate member, said slot adapted to receive said stub shaft, and means mounted on said plate member for retaining said insulation.

5. The structure as recited in claim 4 wherein said support means for said insulation comprises a member secured to said arcuate plate member on each side of said axis, said members lying in a plane substantially contiguous with said axis of said arcuate plate member.

6. A pipe insulation forming machine comprising a stand having a top portion, a rotatably mounted shaft extending across said top portion, a pair of lever arms, each lever arm being secured at one end to said shaft on each side of said stand, a stub shaft rotatably mounted at one end to each of said other ends of said lever arms, said stub shafts extending in a direction toward each other, a spindle secured at its ends to said stub shafts, power means connected to one of said stub shafts for rotating said spindle, abrasive means secured to the outer surface of said spindle, a sprocket wheel secured to said shaft, a foot operated lever pivotally mounted at the lower portion of said stand, a sprocket chain secured at one end to said sprocket wheel and engaging sprockets on said sprocket wheel, the other end of said sprocket chain being secured to said foot operated lever for ansverse movement of said spindle, a pair of arcuate plate members rotatably mounted at the top portion of said stand in spaced relation to each other, said plate members each having a radially disposed slot extending from substantially the axis to the periphery of said plates, said slots being adapted to receive said stub shafts, and support means mounted on said arcuate plate members for supporting said insulation.

7. The structure recited in claim 6 wherein said support means for said insulation comprises a rod secured to each of said arcuate plate members on each side of said 8 axis, said r-ods lying in a plane substantially contiguous with said axes of said arcuate plate members, and a plurality of pins mounted on each of said arcuate plate members adapted to engage said insulation.

8. A pipe insulation forming machine comprising a stand having a top portion and a chamber contained therein, a rotatably mounted shaft extending across said top portion, a pair of lever arms, each lever arm being secured at one end to said shaft on each side of said stand, a stub shaft rotatably mounted at one end to each of said other ends of said lever arms, said stub shafts extending into said chamber, a spindle mounted in said chamber and having its ends secured to said stub shafts, power means connected to one of said stub shafts for rotating said spindle, abrasive means mounted on said spindle, a sprocket wheel secured to said shaft, a foot operated lever pivotally mounted at the lower portion of said stand, a sprocket chain secured at one end to said. sprocket wheel and engaging sprockets on said sprocket wheel, the other end of said sprocket chain being secured to said foot operated lever for transverse movement of said spindle, a pair of arcuate plate members removably and rotatably mounted at the top portion of said stand in spaced relation with each other, said plate members each having a radially disposed slot extending from substantially the axis to the periphery of said plate members, said slot being adapted to receive said stub shafts, a rod secured to each of said arcuate plate members on each side of said axis, said rods lying in a plane substantially contiguous with said axis of said arcuate plate members, a plurality of pins mounted on each of said arcuate plate members adapted to engage said insulation, handle means secured to said arcuate plate members for lateral movement of said plate members toward and away from each other, an outlet for said chamber and suction means connected to said outlet for removing insulation particles from said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 481,335 Theis Aug. 23, 1892 1,849,626 Kosfeld Mar. 15, 1932 2,091,456 Rybick Aug. 31, 1937 2,595,115 Wiley Apr. 29, 1952 

